This treadmill is similar to fitness center models, and has the larger surface area that I wanted. I'm a big guy with long stride and I've had less expensive treadmills before, and the walking surface was too small for me. With this treadmill I feel much more comfortable and confident that I won't stumble. Check other models for yourself, and you'll see that most have a considerably smaller surface area. The 2.5HP motor is slightly smaller than fitness center models that usually start at 3HP, but bigger than most cheap treadmills and this unit has plenty of horsepower for me. Smooth, relatively quiet operation. My only complaint, and the reason I gave it 4 instead of a 5, is that one step in the assembly calls for insterting two screws up into the underside of the control console. Not only do you have to lay down to do this, but you need a strong magnetic screw driver to hold the screw while inserting into what is essentially a blind hole. It's hard for me to describe here, but trust me, it was a pain. Having successfully tackled that, I'm now very pleased with the operation of the unit. It is pretty heavy, which is good and indicates it's made well, but adds to difficulty with assembly, so ensure you are or have access to a handy person for assembly.
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